Annual passport questions

[Brumeiser]

Right now I have a disneyland package for December with a 4 day park hopping ticket. We decided for summer 2015 to go back with another 4 or 5 day passport, plus we are going to the d23 convention and ours day at the park. Would a premium pass for 1 person would be wise or no? My wife would like to know if 1 person discount for food and souvenirs be for just me or all person in the party if I ordered and paid? Thanks

 

[sunflare]

Would there be a reason why 2 premiums wouldn't be called for (like if you don't have blackout dates for your other trips, so deluxe would do?) I would think for that many days it might be worth it.

The discount does count for all in the party as long as the person with the annual pass does the paying, as far as I know.

 

[Tyggress]

PP is correct...Premium pass discounts apply to all in your party at the table. If you are buying merchandise, just be sure the person with the pass is the one paying...they will usually ask for your ID along with the pass when you purchase items.

And I agree, unless the dates you want to go have no blockout days on the other pass levels, for the $$ you'd spend on 4-5 day hoppers twice, you may as well buy two Premium passes.

 

[Hojoanaheim]

As long as one family member is an AP holder, the discount can be used for the entire family. But the AP holder has to be the one to pay. For example, if you want the discount but a grandparent would like to pay, Disney won’t allow this.
Since you are planning on purchasing 4 Day Hopper passes twice, the Deluxe AP might save you some money, unless you receive discount tickets through D23 A Deluxe pass is $519 and a 4 Day Hopper is $289 (each time). A Premium Pass does give you a higher discount than the Deluxe pass. Currently, Premium has a 20% discount off merchandise and 15% off food, I believe Deluxe is only 10 and 10. And the Premium Pass includes parking.

HTH,
Kriss

 

[jina]

We have a similar situation- I already bought us (me, DH and DD4) 3 day park hoppers but we are going to upgrade to 1 Premium pass and 2 Deluxe. The difference for the premium and deluxe will pay for itself during the trip due to the extra discount for food and merchandise (we are dining w/ friends a few times so the extra 5% for dining will add up fast for us). Then if during the year we decide we want to go during a Deluxe blackout day, we'll either buy blackout tickets (if those are still available) or upgrade the other 2 passes to Premium. We're always together so no worries about the Premium passholder not being around to pay. (well, if I want to run off and do some shopping is the only exception so I'll be the premium passholder .

To get to this solution I did a spreadsheet going through all the things we are likely to buy and compared the Deluxe to Premium discount for each.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Would there be a reason why 2 premiums wouldn't be called for (like if you don't have blackout dates for your other trips, so deluxe would do?) I would think for that many days it might be worth it.

The discount does count for all in the party as long as the person with the annual pass does the paying, as far as I know.

PP is correct...Premium pass discounts apply to all in your party at the table. If you are buying merchandise, just be sure the person with the pass is the one paying...they will usually ask for your ID along with the pass when you purchase items.

And I agree, unless the dates you want to go have no blockout days on the other pass levels, for the $$ you'd spend on 4-5 day hoppers twice, you may as well buy two Premium passes.

2 4-day hopper tickets: $578
1 4-day hopper and 1 5-day hopper ticket: $594
2 5-day hopper tickets: $610

Premium pass: $699

So, yes, a premium pass is still more expensive, so having 2 may not be "worth it" to OP. Having one could be worth it for discounts and parking, depending on their park habits.

Deluxe pass is $519 so if OP can/wants to avoid Saturdays and holidays (check the blockout calendar), that could be a less expensive ticketing option.

 

[Nicolette11785]

The 20% merchandise is supposed to expire at the end of December 2014 but they may decide to do as they did last year and add another year. I have 1 premium and 1 deluxe pass. When I went with my son in June the savings from the food and merchandise was around $115 for 7 days in the park. I also used parking everyday. If you will need the parking as well, having 1 premium pass would probably be a good idea.

Look at the dates you are going and whether any of them will be blackouts. If so, the premium pass would be best.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Then if during the year we decide we want to go during a Deluxe blackout day, we'll either buy blackout tickets (if those are still available) or upgrade the other 2 passes to Premium.

With the last price increase, Disney discontinued blockout tickets. I don't know if there is official word about whether this is a temporary or permanent change, but they aren't available currently and there is no way right now to know when or if they will return.

 

[jina]

I hope the premium discounts continue. Does Disney tend to raise ticket prices more than once a year? I wonder if we should look into getting 3 premium - I just don't know if we'll ever want to go on a blackout day.

 

[Tyggress]

2 4-day hopper tickets: $578
1 4-day hopper and 1 5-day hopper ticket: $594
2 5-day hopper tickets: $610

Premium pass: $699

So, yes, a premium pass is still more expensive, so having 2 may not be "worth it" to OP. Having one could be worth it for discounts and parking, depending on their park habits.

Deluxe pass is $519 so if OP can/wants to avoid Saturdays and holidays (check the blockout calendar), that could be a less expensive ticketing option.

I believe the OP mentioned going on two different 4 - 5 day trips, plus D23 and maybe one more...so, if add all those numbers up, it's $1,782 for those trips. In that case, the Premium pass would, indeed, be worth it (2 = $1,398). If the days they want to go are not blocked out for lower pass levels, then get one Premium and one Deluxe, etc.

 

[SMD]

The base merchandise discount is 10% for premium and nothing for deluxe and below. A even if they don't continue the extra 10% into 2015, you'll still get more of a discount with premium than you would with deluxe.

You'd have to buy a lot of merchandise and eat a lot of food for the extra discounts to really save a significant amount of money. For example, you have to spend $1800 in discountable merchandise to make up the difference between deluxe and premium. The benefit of premium is really avoiding blockout dates and parking.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I believe the OP mentioned going on two different 4 - 5 day trips, plus D23 and maybe one more...so, if add all those numbers up, it's $1,782 for those trips. In that case, the Premium pass would, indeed, be worth it (2 = $1,398). If the days they want to go are not blocked out for lower pass levels, then get one Premium and one Deluxe, etc.

Ah, I mis-interpreted. I saw that they are booked for a 4-day trip. I thought the next 4-5 day trip was combined with the D23 event. Yes, if they are going a 3rd separate time, the premium is "worth" it, but a deluxe would suffice if they will not be there for any blockout days. If they are going to spend a lot of money on food and merchandise and/or use the parking, then getting one premium and one deluxe could be a good idea even if blockout days don't come into play.